The Sea of Trolls

After Jack becomes apprenticed to a Druid bard, he and his little sister Lucy are captured by Viking Berserkers and taken to the home of King Ivar the Boneless and his half-troll queen, leading Jack to undertake a vital quest to Jotunheim, home of the trolls.

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This book was super super fun! The writing managed to make it really believable that we were seeing the world through a child's eyes (well, an 11-year-old) and it was still really an intriguing, wonderful book. It also felt very self-contained, though I am intending to go off and read the other two. It was clear that Nancy Farmer did a lot of research, but not in an info-dump way that makes it clear that's what she was doing. The book was exciting and an easy read--I finished it in about two days, if that says anything, though it does clock in at around 450 pages. Overall, I though this book was super fun and I was glad to have read it!

This adventure story beautifully weaves Nordic mythology with history. It takes place in Anglo-Saxon Europe, where the Vikings (known in the book only as really large Northmen with a thirst for pillaging what is now the British Isles) The Northmen eventually stumble upon a small island where they capture our hero Jack, who is training to be a Bard or magician, and his little sister Lucy, who is convinced that she is actually a lost princess. And so begins this fantastically paced adventure, full of nail-bitingly tense scenes, insight into an amazing array of characters, intriguing dialogue full of anxiety, fear and happiness by turn. The Northmen (Vikings) are a cruel bunch of people, to be sure, but Jack finds their humanity too. Similar to the Hobbit, this is an epic tale complete with spiders, dragons, poisonous gigantic flowers, and yes, for sure, big, hairy, scary trolls. Sea of Trolls is followed up by 2 more books – a trilogy that is highly recommended to readers who like fast-paced fantasy/adventure/history.

Jack and his sister Lucy are kidnapped by Vikings and so begin a rip-roaring adventure across the sea of trolls. With enough plot and excitement to fill several books, Jack's story will have readers glued to the pages. Steeped in mythology, the story continues with In the Land of the Silver Apples and Islands of the Blessed. Not to be missed. And read the rest of Nancy Farmer's fabulous books while you are at it!

Shiva_Rudra
Aug 13, 2014

I come from Viking Ancestery.Nancy Farmer did her homework well to recieve an award for this book,since we Canadians,including Mrs.Farmer
always do! 5 stars!

thomaspoku
Jul 10, 2014

This book it's amazing. It's descriptive and plunges it every sense of emotion the characters feel, whether it's suspense, adventure or ectasy.

I have read all of Nancy Farmer’s books. They are all great reading for young teens. This is book 1 in a trilogy. It is followed by: 'The Land of the Silver Apples;' then, 'The Island of the Blessed.' One of my favourite books by Ms. Farmer is 'The House of the Scorpion.' I have read it four times. Doctor-at-Bass! T. A.

Summary

Jack and his sister Lucy are kidnapped by Vikings and so begin a rip-roaring adventure across the sea of trolls. With enough plot and excitement to fill several books, Jack's story will have readers glued to the pages. Steeped in mythology, the story continues with In the Land of the Silver Apples and Islands of the Blessed. Not to be missed. And read the rest of Nancy Farmer's fabulous books while you are at it!